Fight flu attack

As we draw close to spring in Grant County, influenza is hitting us hard.

Eastbrook South Elementary in Upland had to close one day this week to sanitize the school as best as possible because to the number of sick children.

This is a hard time of year. Flu symptoms include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, muscle pains and neuralgia. Of course, proper diagnosis of influenza should come from a physician.

The common sense response that every person should take includes making sure kids, as well as adults, stop the spread of flu dead through hygiene and staying home when sick:

n Wash your hands frequently is just about the best defense. That will help destroy the viruses and keep them from invading your system.

n Drink plenty of liquids. But don’t share cups or glasses with others.

n Avoid contact with people known to be sick or who appear to be sick. If there is a local outbreak, avoid crowded places, where the virus can easily be spread.

n If you come down with the flu – or a cold or anything else caused by a virus that’s easy to spread – stay away from others as much as possible. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Avoid crowds. Stay home from work or school.

There’s no cure for influenza, but there are ways to relieve the symptoms – bed rest, plenty of fluids, analgesics, cough medicine, using a humidifier – and there are antibiotics to fight off secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis.